In a newly published study, Stanford scientists reveal we don’t age gradually, as has been traditionally believed. Instead, we age at two significant “bursts” across our post-puberty lifespan: one in our mid-40s, the other in our early 60s.

The molecular changes that occur during each period could explain seeming sudden signs of aging such as the appearance of wrinkles, sagging skin, graying hair, muscle and joint pain, and increased vulnerability to viral infections.

“This study reveals why many people start to ‘feel’ their age rather suddenly,” explains John Whyte, a family medicine physician and a former director for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who was not involved in the research. At the same time, he says, it “challenges the traditional view that aging is a slow, continuous process.”

(When does old age begin, though? Science says it’s later than you think.)

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